Originally Scheduled at 11:00 Saturday morning, the closing
ceremony is expected to declare a joint document agreed by all six
sides including China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), the US, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.
US top delegate, James Kelly, says he will leave Beijing on
Saturday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Friday though
there are still some differences, relevant parties are still
working on a joint document.
The US has maintained the position that a "complete, verifiable
and irreversible dismantling" of the DPRK's nuclear facilities are
necessary, but Liu Jianchao stresses that it's not enough. He says
the DPRK's security concerns should also be discussed and
addressed.
The DPRK?delegation again accused the US side of
anti-Pyongyang hostility, saying that has stalled the peace
talks.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State
Colin Powell exchanged views over the phone Friday evening on the
second round of the six-party talks. No details of the phone
conversation were disclosed.
(CRI.com February 28, 2004)